Billfold



June 12, 1951. w. R. wHn'MER BILLFOLD' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1949 FIG. 3

' a Jada h 197 TOP/Vi Y8 Patented June 12, 1951 UINITED STATES AT-NT "FFlC-E;

BILLFOED William R; Whitmer. Springfield, Ohio, assignor to They Springfield: Leather; Products. Company. Springfield, Ohio. a corporation of Ohio:

Application July 28, 1949', Serial No..107,349;

2 Claims.

Thisrinvention: relates to pocket wallets or billfolds. More particularly, it relatesto: billfol'ds of expandabl'e structure. Still more particularly, it relates. to-that: class of billfold which have at least two inner'spaced-apart pocketsv with a panel bridging the space between the pockets, and-having-bothzexpandable bottom: and side structure.

Expandable end walls for billfolds have been obtained by various methods; such as. by the use of'interlocking walls, sewing in gussets; and like construction.

The interlocking wall is: ften favored over'the various gusset'constructions; because of the opportunity to bias the apex of the folded portion inwardly, thusavoiding outward flaring which destroys the neat appearance of a billfold.

Even; with gusset: construction, inasmuch as there are two opposingly biased 'units; one at each end of'the billfold, there have been devised connecting' partitions which hold the gussets against flaring outwardly. I

Constructions utilized for expandable end units have never been adaptable to theb'ottom of a billfold. Overlapping construction Was so bulky as to materially interfere with the utilization of the-bill-compar-tment.

Gussets with no available support fromother members quickly sagged under conditions of use.

The problem; therefore, of controlling andbiasing a bottom gusset wall to always be inwardly directed has presented the leather goods industry with arvexing problem.

It i's an object of this invention to provide a new billfold which will avoid the difliculties' and limitations of" prior *billfoldsas pointed out above.

It is another-object of'this invention to providea billfold of tailored style which avoids sewing-on exposed faces,

It' isa further object of the present invention toprovide a bill-fold having an accordion style construction of" uniform expandabilitythroughout-its'length.

Another object of this invention is to provide a billfold of expandable nature having a bottom gusset like construction which is'always heldv with the apexdirected inwardly.

It is a still further object ofthis invention to provide a billfold construction, wherein an outerwall oithe billfold may be formedwith an integral portion which can act as: the currency divider inthe finished billfold;

It is a further-objector this invention to provide a billfold,c0nstruction1whereby,'after a singlestitching operationduring which'th'ebillfold may be laidflat for simplicity of operation, the

2' billfold may be assembled as a compact unit with the bottom: and end gusset construction concealed except-when inspected in expanded-position.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparentto-one-skilled in the artas the'following description proceeds.

In brief, billfol'ds of this'new construction are formed of at least two and generally three units. The unit forming the outerwall has an integral portion of suitable length which-is foldedto lie against the inner side ofthe outer wall.

The unit or units constituting the inner wall also are formed with a portion foldabl'e to lie against the inner side of the outer wall. The fold-overportions of the walls are brought together back to back and joinedtogether in, for example; a flat sewing or equivalent operation.

With the joined portions folded inwardly in gusset styl'ethe ends of thebill-fold may be closed by gussets or gusset-like constructions formed in any-suitable manner.

The advantages of" this new construction are manifestly clear; The billfold isevenly expandable over itsentire length.

Another advantage isthat the back to back fastening produces a self supporting gusset-like construction which is always biased inwardly.

Still another advantage is that the billfold walls may be laid fiat for simplified assembly and tackmg.

Still another advantage is the-saving; in materials effect'ed'when the outer and inner walls of the billfold donot need to be formed as a single blank;

The manner in which the billfold is construct ed will be better understood by reference to the following description and the drawings;

In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a top View of; the outerwa'll unit of'the'billfold;

Figure-2 is-a top view of the inner'wall" units oft-he'bil-lf'old;

Figure 3" is a top viewof a bridging wall;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of an assembledbillfold partiall cut-away to disclose interrelationship of assembled. parts;

Figure 5 is a. vertical cross sectional view of the billfold taken along the line 5.5ofFigure.4.;.

Figure 6 is.a vertical crosssectionalview taken along theline 6.-6j of Figured;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modification of the bottom construction.

Referring to the drawings, the billfold of this invention consists of the basic unit shown in Fi ures l to 3, inclusive.

Figure 1 shows a preferred form of unit whose central portion I I within the hereinafter explained folds is the outer or solid rear wall of the billfold.

Topping the outer wall is n integral flap composed of three portions, l2, l3 and I4 joined to the outer wall along the fold l5. It will be recognized that this flap may be formed of any suitable length and as a single unit if so desired.

Portions l2 and H! of the illustrated construction are adapted for being turned semi-permanentl inward, while portion I3 is for use as a trap door cover for a so-called hidden pocket. By turning this flap inward to lie against the inner side of wall II, the flap serves to have a stiffening and finishing effect. When the flap I3 is turned inward to lay over the upper edge of flap 24, it serves as the trap-door cover for a hidden pocket thereby provided between the flap 24 and the outer wall I l.

Outer wall H is provided along its side folds l3 and I! with integral flaps l8 and I9, respectively. These flaps are vertically slit as at 29 and 2 l.

Along the bottom fold 23 of outer wall i I there is joined thereto a flap 24 which is incised to form the small tongue 25. The purpose of this flap will be further explained hereinafter.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a pair of mirror image units 26 and 21, whose central portions form the longitudinally spaced inner wall portions 28 and 29 of the billfold.

At what will be the bottom fold 30 the units are provided with flaps 3i and 32, respectively, whose purpose will be described later in more detail.

The inner wall portions 23 and 29 are provided along their outwardly side folds 33 and 34 with integral flaps 35 and 35, respectively.

Flaps 35 and 36 are apertured as at 37 and 38 and adapted for loose sliding fit with the interlocking means, hereinafter described by way of illustration and without any intention of limiting the invention to the particular end construction shown.

Portions 28 and 29 have integral wall sections 39 and M3, respectively, which fold along the fold line ll in order to lie against the inside of por tions 28 and 29, thus forming a tubular or pocket structure adapted to enclose a bridging wall 49.

Sections 39 and iii are each adapted with companion perforations 42 whose purpose will be hereinafter explained. Adjacent the lateral sides, sections 39 and are incised to produce retainer arms or tongues 43 and 44.

Tongues Q3 and 44 are provided with throat portions 45 and 45 and adapted with laterally ex tending ears 4! and 48 which prevent the tongues from being readil withdrawn from slots through which they are extended.

Wall 49 may be adapted for attachment in any suitable manner. As illustrated in Figure 3, it is provided with two pairs of parallel apertures 50 and 5! defining stem section 52 and 53 which terminate in convexly shaped end sections '54 and 55 creating retainer tabs 55 and 5'! for locking bridging wall 49 with inner wall sections 39 and 40.

The billfold formed from the basic units illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is shown in assembled 4 1 form in Figure 4. The bottom gusset-like construction is more clearly illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, wherein the method of joining the inner and outer walls is by stitching 58.

In Figure 8 the outer wall II is illustrated as having the integral flap 24 joined back to back with flap 3| of inner wall 25.

In Figure 9 the flap 24 of outer wall H and flap SI of inner wall 26 are separated by a compartment divider wall 60 which is not integral with either the outer or inner wall.

It will at once be recognized that after the outer wall I l and the inner wall members 28 and 29 have been secured together and the flaps 39 and 40 are folded inwardly, the two sections may then be folded up on one another to conceal the sewed portions therebetween.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 the bridging Wall 49 is shown suspended from and forming a link closin the space between inner wall sections 39 and 59 by means of retainer tabs 56 and 51 which are passed through the twin apertures 42 and are locked in loose sliding fit by heads 54 and 55.

Flaps l2, l3 and M are shown folded down against the inner side of outer wall ll.

Closure of the ends of the billfold is best illustrated by reference to the rightwardly end of Figure 4 and to Figure 7, although identical interlocking construction is carried out at the leftwardly end of the billfold as well. These figures show the end flap N3 of outer wall II and. flap 35 of inner wall member 28 folded inwardly.

Retainer flap 45 is passed through the aperture 3? of flap 35 and the throat is extended or inserted through slit 2B in flap l8. In this way the inner wall slides loosely giving the structure flexibility while the two flaps are always held back to back in an inwardly extending position.

The vertical alignment is further brought out in Figures 5 and 6, wherein it will be seen that the flaps SI and 24 lie back to back.

While the billfold disclosed and described herein constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that the billfold is capable of alteration without departin from the spirit of the invention, and that all modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

For example, when the billfold is completely assembled it will be seen that the tongue 25 lies against the back of the bridging wall 49, obscuring a clear view between the longitudinally spaced inner wall portions and the bill compartment.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the flap 3| of the inner wall 28 may be the long flap to serve also as the inner compartment divider and the outer wall may be formed with a short flap. In this event, however, it must be recognized that unless the leather is finished on both the inner and outer surfaces, this construction will present an unfinished leather surface to normal view.

I claim:

1. In a billfold having a full length pocket opening along the upper edge thereof and two end pockets that open toward each other when the billfold is laid fiat and overlie each other when the billfold is folded, said billfold including a panel forming the outside wall of the full length pocket, said panel having an integral extension flap along the bottom longitudinal edge thereof substantially coextensive with the said edge and foldable upwardly to lie between said panel and the end pockets, said panel further having at each end thereof an end flap substantially coextensive with the corresponding end of the said panel and foldable inwardly to overlie the ends of said extension flap, each of said end flaps having a slot therein, said end pockets each including a panel forming the inside Wall of the billfold and having a short integral extension flap alon the bottom longitudinal edge thereof substantially coextensive with the said edge and foldable upwardly to lie against the extension flap on the bottom edge of said first panel with said second extension flap secured to said first extension flap, each of said end pocket panels further having an integral extension panel along the top edge thereof substantially coextensive with the pocket panel in size and foldable downwardly with the free edge thereof positioned between the pocket panel and said extension flap along the bottom thereof, each of said pocket panels further having an end flap along the outer end thereof substantially coextensive with the said end and foldable inwardly to overlie the said extension panel on said pocket panel, each of said last-mentioned end flaps having slot means therein, and a locking tab formed in each of the extension panels on said pocket panels and adjacent the ends of the billfold, each of said locking tabs projecting through the slots in the corresponding end flaps of said first panel and the slots in the corresponding end fiaps of said pocket panels to lock the flaps together and form expansible end constructions in the billfold.

2. In a billfold having a full length pocket opening along the upper edge thereof and two end pockets that open toward each other when the billfold is laid flat and overlie each other when the billfold is folded, said billfold including a panel forming the outside wall of the full length pocket, said panel havin an integral extension panel along the bottom longitudinal edge thereof substantially coextensive with said first panel in size and foldable upwardly to lie between said first panel and the end pockets, said panel further having at each end thereof an end flap substantially coextensive with the corresponding end of the said panel and foldable inwardly to overlie the ends of said extension panel, each of said end flaps having a slot therein, said end pockets each including a panel forming the inside wall of the billfold and having a short integral extension flap along the bottom longitudinal edge thereof substantially coextensive with the said edge and foldable upwardly to lie against the extension panel on said first panel with the free edge of said flap secured to said extension panel, each of said end pocket panels further having an integral extension panel along the top edge thereof substantially coextensive with the pocket panel in size and foldable downwardly with the free edge thereof positioned between the pocket panel and said extension flap, each of said pocket panels further having an end flap along the outer end thereof substantially coextensive with the said end and foldable inwardly to overlie the said extension panel along the top edge thereof, each of said last-mentioned end extension flaps having slot means therein, and a locking tab formed in each of the extension panels on said pocket panels and adjacent the ends of the billfold, each of said locking tabs projecting through the slots in the corresponding end flaps of said first panel and the slots in the corresponding end flaps of said pocket panel to lock the flaps together and form expansible end constructions in the billfold.

- WILLIAM R. WHITMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,278 Lauferty June 7, 1892 2,100,771 Welch Nov. 30, 1937 2,154,826 Stember et a1 Apr. 18, 1939 2,285,906 Davio June 9, 1942 2,288,704 Herbener July 7, 1942 2,426,503 Herbener Aug. 26, 1947 2,426,504 Herbener Aug. 26, 1947 2,439,579 Benz Apr. 13, 1948 2,456,830 Herbener Dec. 21, 1948 2,484,682 Broughton Oct. 11, 1949 2,496,174 Pence Jan. 31, 1950 2,505,994 Sabula May 2, 1950 

